GRIFFINS ICE 'HOGS, 5-2

ROCKFORD, Ill. – Four goals in the opening 20:59 powered the Grand Rapids Griffins to a 5-2 victory over the Rockford IceHogs on Saturday at BMO Harris Bank Center.

Cal Heeter turned aside 33-of-35 shots while five Griffins logged multi-point efforts as Grand Rapids won for the 10th time in 12 games, earning points in 18 of its last 21 (15-3-1-2). The result gives the Griffins five consecutive wins over the IceHogs, outscoring Rockford 23-6 in that stretch.

Dan Renouf opened the scoring for the Griffins (24-9-1-2) 7:07 into the hockey game. Robbie Russo’s feed from the right half-boards reached Renouf at the bottom of the left circle for a tap-in into an open net.

Mike Borkowski capitalized on a Rockford turnover to give the visitors a two-goal advantage. Four seconds after a Tomas Nosek interference minor expired, Erik Gustafsson fanned on a clearing attempt that landed on the stick of Borkowski in the slot for a wrist shot past Mac Carruth’s catching glove at the 14:17 mark.

Grand Rapids capitalized on its first power play opportunity to take a commanding 3-0 lead into the first intermission. Martin Frk was able to control Nosek’s pass in the high slot and ripped a slapshot inside the left post with 13.8 seconds on the clock.

Nosek provided a fourth goal 59 seconds into the middle period when he took Frk’s drop pass in the high slot and placed a wrist shot into the top left corner for his 13th tally of the campaign. That proved to be the end of the night for Carruth, who was replaced by Lars Johansson.

Rockford (12-20-3-3) responded with a pair of tallies late in the second stanza. Evan Mosey got the hosts on the scoresheet with 6:38 left when he sent a wrist shot from the left point that appeared to deflect off a Grand Rapids stick and into the top right corner. Kyle Baun added another two minutes later when he worked his way into the slot and lifted a shot that ricocheted off the right post and Heeter’s back before trickling over the goalline.

Ben Street put the game beyond any doubt just over five minutes into the final frame. After his initial effort from close range was fought off by Johansson, Street tracked down his own rebound and a flipped a backhanded shot over the sprawling Rockford netminder.

Grand Rapids finished 1-for-3 on the man advantage while Rockford came up empty in a 0-for-5 performance. Carruth stopped 11-of-15 shots in defeat before Johansson turned away 18-of-19 in relief.

The Griffins and IceHogs have a rematch on Monday at BMO Harris Bank Center with puck drop set for 2 p.m. EST.

Notes: Grand Rapids scored five goals for the 11th time this season and the fourth time in its last six contests…Nosek has eight points (4-4–8) against Rockford this season and 11 points (6-5–11) in his last six overall…Street has logged seven points (3-4–7) against the IceHogs this campaign…Tyler Bertuzzi has registered an assist in four of his last five outings (0-5–5)...Eight of Frk's 12 goals this season have come on the power play.

Three Stars: 1. RFD Baun (goal); 2. GR Heeter (W, 33 saves); 3. GR Renouf (goal, assist)